Page 67 of Casting Butterflies

“It will and provides a solution to all our problems. So if you’ll excuse me, it is time for me to sprout.” Cedric rose and sauntered for the hole, not even pausing before hopping in.

I scrambled for the edge, gripping it and gaping, for Cedric was gone.

Without a sound.

Without a hug goodbye.

Before I could say anything like thank you.

Tears pricked my eyes.

Misha knelt by side and placed an arm around me. “Don’t cry.”

“I’m not,” I hiccupped. “I hated that mangy, rude, bossy feline.” That was probably why I hand-scooped the dirt and sprinkled it over the seed and scowled at anybody who tried to help. When I’d covered it, I bowed my head and cried. Tears that glittered as they fell and moistened the ground.

I don’t know how long I sat hunched there, but eventually Misha murmured, “Let’s get you to bed.”

I wanted to protest, but my cold and sore body had nothing left to fight with. I plodded beside Misha, too slow apparently, because he swept me into his brawny arms and carried me. Carried me to a room I didn’t recognize. Not a hard feat since I’d only seen the one bedroom. A glance around the masculine space had me guessing, “This is your space?”

“When I’m not roaming on an errand for my people. Yes.”

“It’s very you.” Heavy dark furniture. A big screen television that surprised in this place. As did the gaming console. The bed? Bigger than a king and inviting. I would have crawled into it, but Misha tugged me into the bathroom.

“You should get warm first.”

I stood still as he stripped me. Numb as he soaped me. Detached when he wrapped me in a towel and carried me, not to bed but to sit in his lap in front of his roaring fireplace.

He held me, head resting on my crown, arms wrapped around me.

It took me a moment before I could speak, and when I did, I avoided what happened in the courtyard.

“How are you alive?”

“By pure fluke.”

“What happened when you fell in the hole?”

“I didn’t, although that might have been preferable. I was actually swallowed by the monster.”

“What?” I half turned in his lap. “You got eaten?”

“Not exactly, or we wouldn’t be talking. When the train car I stood on suddenly let go, I tried to leap to safety, but one of those damned tentacles on that monster’s face swatted me right into its mouth. Luckily, it had no teeth for chewing. Even luckier, you killed it before I had a chance to make it to its stomach and get digested by its acid.”

“How long were you trapped inside the dead bug?” I asked, horrified and fascinated at once.

“Hours. Problem being, when I did emerge, the military had already secured the space. I ended up being carted off for questioning.”

“You went from being bug food to jail?”

“Yeah.” A wry reply. “That took me a bit to escape from, and when I did, I immediately followed your tracks.”

“Stalker.” I said it with a laugh.

He squeezed me. “Glad I arrived before my grandmother knifed you. I swear, I had no idea what she planned.”

“I believe you. I just hope Cedric was right because if that tree doesn’t sprout, I wouldn’t put it past Dasha to try again.”

“Never!” His vehement exclamation.